Muhammad guilty of murder

[Protoclown]

Muhammad guilty of murder

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (CNN) --A jury found sniper shootings suspect John Allen Muhammad guilty of capital murder and three other charges related to last year's sniper shooting spree.

The seven-woman, five-man jury also found Muhammad guilty of committing a murder in an act of terrorism, conspiracy and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The capital murder and terrorism charges carry the death penalty as a possible sentence. The penalty phase will begin at 2 p.m. EST after a lunch break.

The jury announced its verdict at 11:55 a.m. EST, after six hours of deliberations.

The terrorism conviction is under a Virginia state law passed after the September 11, 2001, attacks. The terrorism charge required the prosecution to show that he was responsible for a murder aimed at intimidating the public or influencing the government.

The capital murder charge required prosecutors to show that he was responsible for at least two murders in a three-year period.

CNN Correspondent Jeanne Meserve reported that no emotion was expressed by Muhammad or the jury as the verdict was read.

Muhammad's defense attorneys had argued there was no evidence he was responsible for the sniper shootings, and that Malvo appeared to be the triggerman. But the prosecution argued that Muhammad was the "immediate perpetrator," even if not the triggerman.

The verdict came six weeks after the trial began, and on the day that testimony began in the trial of Muhammad's alleged accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo.

The trial began with jury selection on October 13 with Muhammad, 42, announcing he would represent himself. Two days later he switched course and told the judge he would return to his attorneys for representation.

Prosecutors presented testimony from 136 different witnesses over 14 days. Testimony featured testimony from witnesses and family members of last year's shooting spree.

Some of the witnesses -- notably crime scene analysts and medical examiners -- made numerous appearances.

Muhammad's attorneys presented five witnesses and gave evidence that lasted less than three hours.

Earlier Monday, prosecutors said that during his confinement earlier this year Muhammad attempted to escape.

The assertion came in arguments before the judge involving what evidence may be used in the sentencing phase if Muhammad is convicted.

Although prosecutors did not say in court when Muhammad attempted to escape, a government source told CNN the incident took place on March 23. But the defense called the allegation an unfounded rumor.

Prosecutor James Willett said Muhammad was put in solitary confinement after his alleged escape attempt.

Defense attorney Jonathan Shapiro argued that word of the escape attempt was only a rumor. But Willett said the commonwealth has evidence.

Willett did not say at what point Muhammad tried to escape.

Muhammad was charged in the October 9, 2002, slaying of Dean Harold Meyers outside a Manassas gas station.

Muhammad and Malvo are accused of being behind the October 2002 sniper slayings that killed 10 people and wounded three in the Washington, D.C., area. They are also charged in sniper shootings in several other states.

Muhammad and Malvo are the first suspects to be charged under Virginia's terrorism law.

CNN producer Mike Ahlers contributed to this report.

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Well, I for one am both shocked and outraged. What is this country coming to? It's getting so a man can't mind his own business and go on a killing spree without a bunch of people butting into it.

[mburbank]

He never would have been found guilty if he was white. Unless he was Martha Stewart.